We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Gantous Arquitectos ("GA").

Since 1992, Gantous Arquitectos has successfully positioned itself as a leader in contemporary architecture and interior design. Brothers Claudio and Christian Gantous, along with their team of professionals, have a philosophy of confronting each project as an opportunity for uniqueness and authenticity. A commitment by which they have developed projects of the highest architectural and technical standards for residential, commercial, corporate and government sectors. ga's extensive and varied portfolio includes projects of the caliber of The Royal Dutch Embassy in Mexico City, the remodeling of the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City, the high altar and presbytery of the Cathedral of Zacatecas, and the corporate offices for Siebel Systems in L'Etoile, Paris, among many others. Recently the company has been involved in designing a variety of high-end condominiums for property development companies and it successfully developed and promoted an exclusive apartment building in Polanco, Mexico City. Gantous Arquitectos are renowned for their work on high-end residential projects, which involve design and manufacture of highly specialized furnishings. The company creates perfectly manufactured, elegant projects with environments that are both comfortable and sublime in their artistic expression. Most importantly, however, their projects are carefully designed with regard to climate and optimal orientation, resulting in intelligent and sustainable architecture. Without great concern for contemporary stylistic architectural trends, ga focuses on simple and serene forms that allow for emphasis on detail. In this manner, achieving spaces that enrich the human spirit through the fundamental value of respectful communication and co-existence between nature and architectural creation.

Gantous Arquitectos Designs

We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Gantous Arquitectos.

Designer Interview of Gantous Arquitectos:

DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

GA : Gantous Arquitectos was established 27 years ago by myself and my brother Christian. Since then, along with a team of professionals, we have developed projects of the highest architectural and technical standards for residential, commercial, corporate and government sectors.Our studio was created with the optimistic vision of contributing to devise and build a better world. We believe architecture not only grants man a sense of belonging in space and time, but should as well cause his existential enjoyment. The beautiful and delicate task of manipulating and transforming the natural environment into "a governable creation for the mastery of life”* is what motivates our work.*Moholy.Nagy “the Concept of Space"

DI: What is "design" for you?

GA : I believe architecture to be an independent system that is endowed with an essential own will, a complex mechanism that should be in harmony with nature and in synchronicity with human activity.

DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?

GA : I could name many, but in general I'am proud of every project that has positively transformed the life experience of the end users, but as a design team we are always looking forward for the next challenge and to a new perfect creation!

DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?

GA : The materials we use vary depending on the project and place. Architects should have an ample knowledge of materials and construction processes to apply in favor of design. As Mies Van Der Rohe said: “There is no design possible without understanding completely beforehand the materials with which you design.”We tend to use materials that are readily available and prefer in the most part they express their true nature.

DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?

GA : Every project is approached as an opportunity for uniqueness and authenticity . The site’s topography, surroundings, optimal sun orientation, climate, programmatic needs, client´s special requirements ,budget, local materials, building systems, etc. are taken into account to produce projects that are carefully designed to meet with the clients’ expectations and resulting in intelligent and sustainable architecture. Our studio has no great concern for contemporary stylistic architectural trends, but focuses on simple and serene forms that allow for emphasis on detail. In this manner, seeking to achieve spaces that enrich the human spirit through the fundamental value of respectful communication between nature and the architectural creation.

DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?

GA : Our firm is not interested in style or form as a principle, our vision is focused in constant experimentation, investigation and the constant search of options in architectural creation. Since our first projects created more than 25 years ago, we have changed and evolved and surely we will keep on doing it; our goal in regard to formal and spatial expression is, other than seeking a notion of beauty, to favor the existential enjoyment and well being of man.

DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?

GA : Mexico City. Cultural heritage is always a factor that determines design. Evidently humankind's development has always been a certain kind of globalization process; migrations, conquests, colonizations, commerce, communications, etc. Due to them, the different inhabitants (ethnic groups) of the world's multiple regions have acquired, kept and many times enriched their own cultural identities. Clearly, a certain degree of revindicating a cultural identity is desirable to preserve its distinction from others to the end of not being absorbed by them. Nevertheless, we need to keep an openness to expand our cultures with all that contributes to their enrichment. We believe that identity in the architectural design process should emanate and develop in the meditated creation of a spatial structure that is loaded with meaning.